By 1987, Lyons fully committed to continuous no-till, purchasing a no-till drill and eliminating tillage from his operation altogether. Over time, he invested not in tillage tools or extra horsepower, but in better planters, sprayers, combines and field tile. Equipment and management that supported his soil-first minds
Illinois corn farmers will be impacted by many provisions in the Budget Reconciliation Bill that passed in both chambers this week.
Mid-Year Highlights: IL Corn Top 10 Read Stories
Trade plays a critical role in driving demand for U.S. corn—not only as grain or feed, but also as fuel.
Harvesting the Best: A Look at IL Corn’s Top 10 Videos of 2025
When we think of Independence Day traditions, sweet corn on the cob is as iconic as fireworks and often even more central to the celebration. According to Instacart, purchases of sweet corn surge by 380% over the annual average heading into July 4th, outranking other grilling staples like baby back ribs and burgers. But corn's role in your Fourth of July celebration goes far beyond your plate. In Illinois alone, 8,300 acres of sweet corn are harvested annually, averaging 155 cwt per acre. That’s more than 128 million pounds of locally grown sweetness fueling summer cookouts across the state. And while sweet corn makes a big impression on the grill, most of Illinois’ corn crop isn’t sweet corn - it’s field corn. Less than 1% of the state’s crop is sweet corn, while the rest is used in products that are often invisible to consumers but vital to everyday life: fuel, packaging, fireworks, and even spirits.
